Five children meet on the first day of kindergarten. In the years that follow, they become friends and more than friends. Together, they will find strength, meet challenges, face life’s adventures, endure loss, face stark realities, and open their hearts. In this moving novel, number one New York Times best-selling author Danielle Steel traces their unforgettable journey - full of tests and trials - as three boys and two girls discover the vital bonds that will last a lifetime.

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Publisher's Summary

Five children meet on the first day of kindergarten. In the years that follow, they become friends and more than friends. Together, they will find strength, meet challenges, face life’s adventures, endure loss, face stark realities, and open their hearts. In this moving novel, number one New York Times best-selling author Danielle Steel traces their unforgettable journey - full of tests and trials - as three boys and two girls discover the vital bonds that will last a lifetime.

Gabby, Billy, Izzie, Andy, and Sean - each bursting with their own personality, strikingly different looks and talents, in sports, science, and the arts. Each drawn by the magical spark of connection that happens to the young. At the exclusive Atwood School, on a bright September day, starting in kindergarten, they become an inseparable group known to outsiders as the Big Five. In this rarefied world, five families grow closer, and five children bloom beside one another, unaware of the storms gathering around them.

As they turn from grade-schoolers to teenagers, seemingly perfect lives are buffeted by unraveling families, unfortunate missteps, and losses and victories great and small. And, one by one, they turn back to the Big Five to regain their footing and their steady course. But as they emerge from Atwood and enter the college years, the way forward is neither safe nor clear. As their lives separate and diverge, the challenges and risks become greater, the losses sharper, and the right paths harder to choose, in a journey of friendship, survival, and love.

In what may be her most intricate and emotionally powerful novel yet, Danielle Steel tells a heart-wrenching, ultimately triumphant story that spans decades, weaves together a vivid cast of characters, and captures the challenges we face in life - sometimes, if we’re lucky, with a friend forever by our side.

For years I was often heard saying "Danielle Steel is my favorite author". However, I'm so sad to say I will never be heard saying those words again. I've havent been able to finish listening to her last 7 or 8 books! It seems that she now repeats things over and over, like she takes large portions of a particular chapter and just rewords them 2 or 3 times! It makes me sad to have to say goodbye but unless I hear she has made huge writing style changes, I wont bepushing "buy" for a DS book anytime soon!

I would. This book is perfect as an introduction to this author. I have seen plenty of her books on my mother's shelves over the years. According to her whose taste is wider than most, these books are: "Typical housewive's reads, not award material." Over the last weeks I have used an insane amount on audiobooks. A lot of themmemoirs. I craved this narrator's voice. Sadly he seems to have dobe mostly sci-fi and fàntasy. Generøs I am very picky about no matter who the narrator is. Hence I landed on this. It is not life-changing, but it did take my hand and Lead me safeely into the land of dreams. The first chapters introduce you to each character. Sadly as the story moves on the author pushes the spead-button.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

"Oh, come on, too easy way out,"

Have you listened to any of Nick Podehl’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes, I love his voice. In fact so much I would listen to other books by this. author as long as he reads them.

I would recommend the book itself, but not this audio version. The story spans a long period of time and is fairly interesting. The narration is an abomination though.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Izzie was the main character in the book and I'd say she was my favorite. She was caring and the best friend to all in the group. My least favorite character was Billy. I felt everything that was written throughout the story about Billy was very predictable.

Would you be willing to try another one of Nick Podehl’s performances?

Absolutely NOT! I felt he was a bit lispy. I think the way he tried to imitate the voices made the women sound like 3 year olds and the men sound like they were stoned. I think it really detracted from the story. Perhaps I'm being sexist, but I would really like a story by Danielle Steel, a fantastic writer of women's fiction for decades, to be narrated by a woman.

This was an excellent book. It follows friends from their school careers. I loved how we get to know each Character and how they turned out as young adults. It featured everyday lives and makes you think of your own life. Overall, an excellent story. The story kept me interested in the Characters lives and their families.

I started this book expecting one thing. I had in my mind how it was going to read and the general direction that the book was going to go. I was so far off that it made the book all the more worth reading! I kept me so interested that every free minute I had I kept hitting the play button to listen for just a few minutes.

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